Secrets of the Civil War: Propaganda in Tune

The Preamble

Sharon McMahon

Government, History, Storytelling, Education

4.9 • 15.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 March 2023

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

During the Civil War, the Union used a whole slew of propaganda to win over Northerners: pamphlets, posters, poetry, clothing, cartoons… and music. Performed at rallies where in front of huge crowds about the cause, Civil War songs were specifically written to stir up patriotism and pride. Lyrics praised the bravery of volunteers, and had the dual purpose of encouraging more young men to enlist while boosting the morale of existing troops. Listen in, there’s no doubt you’ll recognize the tunes.

Hosted by: Sharon McMahon

Executive Producer: Heather Jackson

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Written and researched by: Heather Jackson, Valerie Hoback, Amy Watkin, and Mandy Reid

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello everyone, welcome to episode 5 of Secrets of the Civil War.
0:11.4	When the Civil War began in 1861, one of the things the Confederacy wanted was formal
0:17.7	recognition by world powers that they were a legitimate new country.
0:25.2	European nations like Britain and France decided to label the Confederacy as an organized
0:32.4	belligerent which meant that they were a party to war, not their own country.
0:38.9	And Lincoln and the Union could not afford to concede to the Confederacy any more international
0:46.1	support than that.
0:49.0	Luckily, a few traveling men, music, and a newspaper campaign gave them the upper hand.
1:00.5	I'm Sharon McMahon, and here's where it gets interesting.
1:06.4	When the Confederacy formed and began fighting the Union, its leaders made the assumption
1:11.3	that Britain and France would side with them in order to maintain their cotton supply
1:16.0	from the southern states of America.
1:19.5	France, too, had growing interests in Mexico and a formal diplomatic relationship with
1:25.7	the Confederacy could give France an advantage.
1:29.5	France in turn encouraged Britain to recognize the Confederacy, but then the Union stepped
1:36.0	in.
1:37.0	President Lincoln strongly warned both countries that any official siding with the organized
1:44.1	belligerent, aka the Confederacy, was tantamount to a declaration of war with the Union.
1:53.0	He must have been holding his breath and crossing all of his fingers and toes as he gave
1:58.0	that warning because Lincoln knew that his goal to preserve the Union was not likely to
2:03.7	withstand a world war.
2:06.3	A US Civil War doesn't seem like it would affect countries across the ocean, but England's
	...

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